Going forward, The SOS Approach to Feeding Training Course will be run as a hybrid Course. 

The Hybrid version of the SOS Approach to Feeding Training Course consists of 2 components/segments: 

• Prerequisite, pre-recorded Online Segment = 9 hours of pre-recorded lecture material that each Training Course registrant is required to watch and pass a test on PRIOR to being allowed to attend the In-person Segment of the Training Course. This Online Segment of the Training Course must be completed no later than ONE WEEK PRIOR to Day 1 of the In-person Segment of the Training Course.

• In-Person, Live Onsite Segment = 4 days of in-person, live lecture, interactive physical exercises, discussion, and practice of therapy strategies which occur on-site at a venue for all Training Course participants.

 

For the 2026 Melbourne Training Course, key dates are as follows: 

• In-Person, Live Onsite Segment: February 24-27, 2026 (Tuesday–Friday).

• Prerequisite, pre-recorded Online Segment: Open from December 1, 2025. Must be completed prior to February 16, 2026.

 

 

Further details regarding the upcoming Training Course are below:

 

Course Title:

SOS Approach to Feeding: Assessment and Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Challenges

 

Training Course Description:

The Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S.) Approach to Feeding is a trans-disciplinary program for

assessing and treating children with feeding difficulties and weight/growth problems from birth

to 18 years. It integrates posture, sensory, motor, behavioral/learning, medical, and nutritional

factors to comprehensively evaluate and manage children with feeding/growth problems.

• Attendees receive foundational information regarding feeding development, evaluation, and SOS Treatment.

• Training is delivered in a Hybrid format (pre-recorded online and in-person segments)

• Training includes lectures, videos, case presentations, and group activities.

• Attendees receive a Certificate of Completion that is eligible for submission to Professional Organizations for Continuing Education Hours earned during Training Course.

 

Note:

• Participants will be expected to complete the first 9 hours of the Training Course independently online, PRIOR to the start of the 4 days of In-Person Segment of the Training Course.

• Participants are required to complete the prerequisite, 9-hour pre-recorded Online Segment and to pass a test covering the first 9 hours of the Training with at least 80% accuracy at least ONE week BEFORE the first day of the In-Person Segment of the 4 Day Training Course in order to participate and attend the In-Person Segment of the Training Course.

 

Intended Audience:

• Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Psychologists, Special Education Teachers, Early Intervention Specialists, Registered Dietitians, Nurses, Physicians, and Mental Health Workers. 

• Note: The SOS Training Course is created for health professionals. If parents wish to attend the Training Course, they must be accompanied by their child’s feeding therapist. 

 

 Course Level:

• The SOS Approach to Feeding Training Course is an Intermediate level Training Course.

• Information is geared to practitioners with a general working knowledge of current practice trends and literature related to the subject matter. 

• Focus is on increasing understanding and competent application of the subject matter.

 

Content Disclosure

• The Training Course content is focused on the SOS Approach to Feeding Approach, and there will be limited, or no information provided about similar or other products or services.

 

Objectives

1. List the seven areas of human function that need to be examined to provide a comprehensive Feeding Assessment.

2. Identify at least five of the oral, sensory, motor, cognitive or emotional developmental milestones key to being able to eat well.

3. List three reasons why children won’t eat, as based on learning theory principles.

4. Differentiate classical and operant conditioning principles as applied to resolving feeding problems.

5. Identify at least four of the necessary components of an SOS Approach to Feeding program for babies, toddlers, and young children in either an individual or group therapy session.

6. List all three requirements for building a Food Hierarchy.

7. Identify at least one play-based strategy for progressing a child up each of the 6 major Steps on the Steps to Eating Hierarchy.

 

 

REGISTRATION:

• Registration will open July 1, 2025

• Early bird discount will apply until October 30, 2025

• Full registration fees will apply after this time

• A link to the registration site will be available on the Feeding Workshops website: www.feedingworkshops.com

 

CANCELLATION POLICY:

• Cancellations must be received in writing to info@feedingworkshops.com no later than January 16, 2026 to receive a refund, minus a $100 administrative fee. 

• No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after January 16, 2026.

• Please be aware that once you receive and view the prerequisite 9-hour, pre-recorded Online Segment for the Training Course you are currently registered to attend, you will no longer have the option to request refund for attendance at the In-Person Segment of the SOS Training Course. 

 

SUBSTITUTION POLICY:

• Registrations may be substituted for another attendee up until 2 weeks prior to the first day of the In-Person Segment of the Training Course. 

• Substitutions must be submitted in writing by February 9, 2026 to info@feedingworkshops.com otherwise the substitution cannot be honored.

• Note: The substitute attendee will be required to complete the prerequisite 9-hour, pre-recorded Online Segment for the Training Course prior to attending the In-Person Segment of the SOS Course. 

 

 

ATTENDEE GUIDELINES FOR ATTENDING AN SOS APPROACH TO FEEDING COURSE 

 

Attendance Policies:

• This Hybrid SOS Main Training Course (5 Days) has a 100% Attendance requirement.

• Registrants are expected to complete the prerequisite 9-hour, pre-recorded Online Segment of the Training Course at least one week prior to attending the 4-day In-Person Segment of the Training Course.

 

In-Person Segment:

• During the In-Person Segment of the Training Course, participants are expected to attend the Training Course and participate fully for the entire length of each day in order to receive their Certificate of Completion, any continuing education credits, and/or to be allowed to use the SOS Approach to Feeding program.

• Participants will miss crucial information needed to be able to correctly use the SOS Approach to Feeding program if they come late or leave the Training Course early. Hence, Participants who arrive late or leave early on any day MUST make up any missed time. If the Participant does not make up the time, they will not receive a Certificate of Completion and they will not be authorized to use the SOS Approach to Feeding Program. During the Training Course, the Participant must immediately make arrangements with Dr. Toomey to stay late each day of the Training Course until all of the missed time has been made up.

• Participants MUST make their travel arrangements on the last day of the Training Course so that they will not be leaving the Training Course for any reason before the listed end time. NO EXCEPTIONS for flight or train schedules will be made.

 

Online, Independent Study Segment:

• Registrants will receive an email from SOS/Toomey & Associates with instructions for accessing and completing the prerequisite, 9-hour pre-recorded Online Segment of the Hybrid SOS Training Course approximately two months prior to Day 1 of the In-Person Segment of the Training Course.

• Registrants will have until one week before Day 1 of the In-Person Segment of the Training Course to complete the prerequisite, 9-hour pre-recorded Online Segment of the Training Course.

• Any participant who does not watch the full duration of the prerequisite, 9-hour pre-recorded Online Segment (verified by a third-party system) and/or does not pass the test by at least one week prior to Day 1 of the In-Person segment of the Hybrid Training Course, will be contacted by Feeding Workshops’ Administrators. They will work with the Registrant to ensure the requirements for this segment of the Training Course have been met in order for the Registrant to be allowed to attend the In-Person Segment of the Training Course.

 

 Training Course Test and Evaluation Form Requirements:

• All Participants are required to take a multiple-choice test for the prerequisite, 9-hour pre-recorded Online Segment and pass with at least 80% accuracy.

• Upon full completion of the SOS Approach to Feeding Training Course, participants must also complete a Training Course evaluation form in order to receive their Certificate of Completion.

 

 

Other FAQ:

 

Nutritionist Attendance at an SOS Training Course Policy:

• Nutritionists who are registered dietitians or who hold another professional nutrition/nutritionist degree or certification approved by a national governing body in their Country of residence are welcome to attend the SOS Approach to Feeding Training Course.

• All clinicians must follow individual licensing/ scope of practice standards for their Country.

 

Therapy Assistants/Aides or Students-in-Training Policy:

• All therapy assistants/ aides must follow individual licensing/ training standards for their Country and their professional degrees’ supervision standards. 

• When there is a requirement for therapy assistants/ aides to practice only under professional supervision, the SOS Approach to Feeding program requires those therapy assistants/ aides to have a Supervisor who themselves have attended a SOS Training Course.

 

• Only students in their last year of graduate school are permitted to attend an SOS Approach to Feeding Training Course. 

• That student must attend the Training Course with the University/ College Professor who is providing them supervision. 

• If the student’s University/ College Professor is already SOS trained, that Professor will need to submit an email verifying when they received their SOS training and that they are agreeing to supervise this student until the student graduates from the graduate program.

 

Parent/Caregiver Attendance at an SOS Training Course Policy:

• Due to the nature of the information presented along with the need for advanced degrees in this area of study, parents are not able to attend a Training Course unless they are accompanied by their child’s therapist. 

• If the child’s therapist attends the same Training Course, the parent/caregiver is allowed to attend with their child’s therapist. 

• If the child’s therapist is already SOS trained, that therapist will need to submit an email verifying when they received their SOS training and that they are agreeing to assist this child’s parent.

• The child’s therapist will need to help the child's parent directly with any additional information they need to best understand the Training Course work. The child’s therapist can also answer any questions that the parents/caregivers may have that are specific to their child.